UKRAINIANS living in Oxford say it is 'completely unacceptable' that Oxford has no plans to cut ties with its twin city in Russia.

The City Council’s decision to instead "raise concerns" with the twin city, Perm, about "national government’s actions" through a letter has been seen as a weak response by some.

In recent days, Russia has escalated its attack on the Eastern European country with major assaults on key cities, and UK businesses and the sports world have scrambled to cut ties with Russian linked firms.

READ MORE: Council boss to write to Russian twin city after invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian based in Oxford Artur Doshchyn said: “I think we need to cut ties with Perm. I have seen a lot of sportspeople from Russia saying that it is not fair because they don’t comprehend what is happening. They don’t see beyond their own noses.

“It is completely unacceptable.

“It is the same with a twin town. Russia has a fascist campaign, and we need to take a stand. It is like saying we would still twin ourselves to Nazi Germany’s campaign.”

The 31-year-old lecturer’s family has stayed in Ukraine, despite the dangers, and have described hearing air raid sirens although they’ve avoided the bombing so far.

READ MORE: 'My brother woke up to a missile falling 50 meters from his house in Ukraine'

Mr Doshchyn’s father, like many men of fighting age, is part of the army’s reserve, so must stay in case he is called up.

In terms of how he’s feeling himself, Mr Doshchyn said: “The news is really depressing me. It's like a train wreck, don’t want to look but can’t look away.”

Oxford has been twinned with Perm since the end of the cold war, with the connection made official in 1995.

Oxford is also twinned to Bonn in Germany; Grenoble in France; Leiden in the Netherlands; Padua in Italy; Wrocław in Poland; Perm in Russia; León in Nicaragua and Ramallah in Palestine.

Lord Mayor of Oxford Councillor Mark Lygo said: "Twinning is not about world politics. It is about building friendships between community groups in cities and towns that last well beyond governments, changes in politics and even wars.

“Another of our valued twinning relationships is between Oxford and the city of Wroclaw, Poland. This connection is enabling us to facilitate support for the many Ukranian refugees who have fled to the safety of neighbouring Poland; we are proud to assist Wroclaw in its efforts.

“People are the real cost of any war and we continue to care about our friends in Perm. Many of Perm’s citizens have been arrested for protesting against the war in the last few days and the Perm Region has suffered particular repression from Putin’s regime”.

READ MORE: 'Not In My Name':Friends from Oxford's Russian twin city 'appalled' by Putin

Cllr Susan Brown said: “Our friendship links are with the cities and their people, not their governments, but have allowed us to raise concerns with our twin cities about national governments’ actions.

“We will be writing to Perm to express our condemnation of the Russian government and our support for brave peace activists in Russia.

“We look forward to a time when we can rebuild friendships between the people of Perm and Oxford. We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and communities impacted here in Oxford.”

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